Out line has already been done and is attached at the bottom. Planning Proposal for Improving Ashford Student ServicesIn this class, you will be asked to prepare a final written document in which you

The Improvement Of Students Classes Time And Breaks

By: Alejandra Berry

COM 340: Technical Writing

Instructor: Michael Gavino

June 19, 2018

The Improvement Of Students Classes Time And Breaks

Introduction

Ashford University is an institution that has simplified education through making it accessible to students. Many students around the world have been able to find the quality education which has positively defined their lives in a manner that mostly they wouldn't have. These are the likes of international students who may find it difficult to attend physical classes as most universities have provided. This is because the students who join the various degree, as well as Masters Courses offered by the university, can attend their classes through the online portals that the school institution has put in place. This has made education more attainable and more affordable. A few issues only need to be proved regarding the student engagement with their lecturers and the administration in regards to the individual students' academic programs and calendars.

Background information/review of the literature

Many universities around the world tend to provide facilities that include classrooms as well as virtual platforms through which the academic staffs, the administration, and other relevant departments can get in touch with the students. When you engage the students or have a means through which the students can seek for an audience from the department, then it becomes comfortable for them to undertake their studies. However, students are full of personal issues that sometime may affect their attention to classes and thus need a break to sort out them hence continue well with classes. According to Rose et al. (2008), college students face financial instability or family or major events that deeply affect them. Thus they need a break at least during the time they are in the problems. According to Poyrazli et al (2007), such barriers may hinder them from fully adjusting to the academic program on time. Thus the need to have adequate support and responses from the administration to help them handle the matters.

Rationale

Quite often, students have gone to online platforms as well as presented their negative ratings and feedbacks to Ashford University regarding their bad feelings and experiences while undertaking their various studies in the institution. Thus the need to investigate the effects of this on the students and if anything could be better if it were done the other way round.

The research questions are;

i. Is there proper engagement between the Ashford University and its students?

ii. Is there an appropriate procedure for students to seek for breaks during their studies and resumption procedures?

The hypothesis for the research is;

There is a significant adverse effect on student course attendance when they are not given proper breaks and resumption.

The research question will be looking at the availability of student administration engagement and whether the procedures for break request, approval and resumption are well adhered to. On the other hand, the hypothesis will test the effects of course attendance with proper break and no adequate break.

Method and design

i. Method

So as to give this research the best approach on all the activities, I have decided to use a qualitative research method whereby i shall look at the individual effects or impacts on the students who have been affected by the way in which their classes, as well as breaks, are handled. Thus we intend to have three hundred students as our sample to respond to the research. Their responses shall be analyzed and presented.

ii. Design

We shall expect to engage students in online platforms who have their academic profiles containing Ashford University to respond to questions regarding their experiences at Ashford University. The students will be strictly former as well as current students

iii. Procedure

The respondents will be selected based on their course levels. They will be briefed on why their response is important to the research objectives. Questionnaires containing 30 open-ended questions each will be issued out to the respondents who will have to give short but precise answers as required. The issuance of the questionnaires will be online as well as the submission after completion.

iv. Analysis

After the responses will have been received online, they will be exported to QDA Miner Lite an analyzed. Then the hypothesis will be tested and recommendations presented to the administration for their own evaluation and action.

Significance and conclusion

This research study is important since it will be an eye-opener to most of the students as well as the university staff members. They will learn how their desired responsibilities are not being served and hence work in areas where a lot of negligence will have been registered as well as improve on overall students engagements.

References

Ahlfeldt *, S., Mehta, S., & Sellnow, T. (2005). Measurement and analysis of student engagement in university classes where varying levels of PBL methods of instruction are in use. Higher Education Research & Development, 24(1), 5-20. doi: 10.1080/0729436052000318541

Carini, R., Kuh, G., & Klein, S. (2006). Student Engagement and Student Learning: Testing the Linkages*. Research In Higher Education, 47(1), 1-32. doi: 10.1007/s11162-005-8150-9

Chen, P., Lambert, A., & Guidry, K. (2010). Engaging online learners: The impact of Web-based learning technology on college student engagement. Computers & Education, 54(4), 1222-1232. doi: 10.1016/j.compedu.2009.11.008

Poyrazli, Senel & Grahame, Kamini. (2007). Barriers to Adjustment: Needs of International Students Within a Semi-urban Campus Community. Resources. 34.